Category Archives: Ukraine

Jeremy Corbyn has urged western countries to stop arming Ukraine, and claimed he was criticised over antisemitism because of his stance on Palestine, in a TV interview likely to underscore Keir Starmers determination not to readmit him to the Labour party.

Pouring arms in isnt going to bring about a solution, its only going to prolong and exaggerate this war, Corbyn said. We might be in for years and years of a war in Ukraine.

Corbyn gave the interview on Al Mayadeen, a Beirut-based TV channel that has carried pro-Russia reporting since Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

What I find disappointing is that hardly any of the worlds leaders use the word peace; they always use the language of more war, and more bellicose war.

He added: This war is disastrous for the people of Ukraine, for the people of Russia, and for the safety and security of the whole world, and therefore there has to be much more effort put into peace.

He called for the UN to be much more centre stage, and suggested involving other international bodies such as the African Union or the League of Arab States if the UN were unable to help negotiate a ceasefire.

Elsewhere in the interview, Corbyn condemned his expulsion from the parliamentary party, calling it disgraceful.

I spent my life in the Labour party; I joined the Labour party even before England won the World Cup in 1966. I was proud to lead the Labour party, he said, citing Labours strong performance in the 2017 general election and the surge in membership on his watch.

I think the way Ive been treated is disgraceful, and the allegations that have been made against me are disgraceful, he said.

Corbyn also suggested that he had been criticised over antisemitism because of his stance on the Middle East.

I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that my clearly stated support for the right of Palestinian people to be able to live in peace free from occupation, free from being under siege as in Gaza, and for those living in refugee camps played a factor in all this. Benjamin Netanyahu couldnt wait to condemn me for my support for the Palestinian people.

The Labour MP Margaret Hodge condemned his remarks. She said: To suggest our fight against antisemitism on the left means that we are all part of a conspiracy to smear Corbyn is frankly absurd and of itself antisemitic. This consistent failure to understand and distinguish between our Jewish identity and the complex Middle East political issues is at the heart of why Jeremy continues to be outside the Labour party.

A Labour source said of Corbyns comments: There cannot be any ambiguity about the choice hes making, and that is to put himself outside the Labour mainstream.

Starmer has offered staunch support for the governments stance on Ukraine, including the provision of weapons and military training to the countrys troops.

He has stressed Labours longstanding backing for Nato, which is preparing to expand significantly in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Finland and Sweden poised to join.

Starmer has also criticised the Stop the War Coalition, of which Corbyn is the co-vice chair with his close ally Andrew Murray, and hinted Corbyns readmission to the party would require him to distance himself from the organisation.

In a Guardian article earlier this year, Starmer said of Stop the War: At best they are naive, at worst they actively give succour to authoritarian leaders who directly threaten democracies. There is nothing progressive in showing solidarity with the aggressor when our allies need our solidarity and crucially our practical assistance now more than ever.

Corbyn has had the whip suspended since November 2020, over his response to the Equalities and Human Rights Commissions report into Labours handling of antisemitism under his leadership.

Unless he is readmitted, he will be unable to stand as a Labour candidate in his Islington North constituency at the next general election. Some allies have suggested Corbyn might opt to stand as an independent instead, drawing on historic local support.

See the original post here:

Jeremy Corbyn urges west to stop arming Ukraine - The Guardian

In 1942, Germany controlled most of Europe and a large swath of Northern Africa, and Japan controlled much of China, Southeast Asia, and was at Australias doorstep. By the end of 1943, the maps looked quite different. War is like that, a dynamic phenomenon. A scene from the movie, Lawrence of Arabia, says it best: After marching through burning sands and biting windstorms, Lawrence and his men were on the edge of dehydration when they found an oasis. Lawrence realized that his camel boy was missing. When no one volunteered to go back to retrieve the boy, Lawrence went himself. His men pleaded with him not to go, saying that his fate was written by Allah. Two days later, Lawrence returned with the boy, so exhausted and dry that he could only whisper, Nothing is written unless we write it.

A wars outcome is written by its combatants. It depends upon which side commits what is necessary in blood, materiel, and will toward achieving its aims, how long it can sustain its efforts, and whether it makes fewer mistakes than its enemies. By that score, how or when the Ukraine war will end remains unknown.

Some Western strategists are predicting that even with allied help, the best outcome will be a stalemate. They reason that Russia is larger and has more resources than Ukraine. So, even if Russia cannot win outright, it can prevent Ukraine from winning. Thus, they conclude, a stalemate is the most likely outcome. Given this, the reasoning continues, its best to stop the fighting and negotiate a solution now to prevent more suffering. I wonder if these same strategists would have recommended that to the Continental Congress after George Washingtons 1776 defeat on Long Island and in New York? After all, Britain was a global military and economic powerhouse compared to the American colonies, and at the time success looked impossible to many.

The stalemate prediction and the recommendations that flow from it defy the nature of war. War is not an arithmetic affair. Numbers count, but success in war cannot be predicted by merely calculating force ratios and economic potential. War on paper is not the same as real war.

Unable to seize Kyiv and replace Volodymyr Zelenskys government quickly, Vladimir Putin shifted to Plan B: subjugate Ukraine by permanent partition. He is firmly committed to so limit Ukraines political sovereignty, territorial integrity and economic capacity that, even if Ukraine does not become a Russian vassal, Russia gains from its aggression and Ukraine loses. And Putin seems willing to spill much blood Russian and Ukrainian, combatants as well as non-combatants, well beyond what is militarily necessary to achieve his aims.

Hotels, hospitals, shopping centers, apartment buildings, and refugees have been and continue to be Russian targets depravity without limits. And he is Russianizing the areas he has seized changing the currency to rubles, forcing Russian banks upon the residents, changing political leaders, integrating Ukrainian industrial assets into the Russian economy, and deporting Ukrainian citizens annexation Russian-style, just as he did in 2014 in Crimea and the Donbas.

Putin will not stop until he is stopped. His overall purpose is to re-establish a greater Russia. First reuniting former Russian states the Baltic countries, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. Then, when and if possible, Russian buffer states, nations of the former Warsaw Pact Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Subjugating Ukraine is one step toward this ultimate goal.

Putin seems willing to commit everything within his power, but is he able to actually generate and apply whats necessary for even his first step? That remains to be seen. Even with the oil money still flowing into Russian coffers, Putin is having great difficulties in generating soldiers, units and leaders to replace his losses. And even with his oil money, he is also having difficulty repairing, producing, procuring and delivering the vehicles, arms and ammunition his forces need. Ukraines fighters, using allied arms and ammunition, have forced Russian forces into a grinding war of attrition in the northern and eastern parts of Ukraine one that is not clear Putin can, in fact, sustain.

With allied support, the Zelensky government is fighting hard to stop Plan B from succeeding. This is a tough fight, but one the Ukrainians are still determined to win. The Ukrainian people know whats at stake: their right to a political and economic life of their choosing. Further, Putins vision and aggression have generated opposition around the world. Whereas he sought to weaken NATO, it has strengthened and will grow. Where he wanted to show democracys weakness, he provoked unity and strength. Grand strategically, he may have lost already. Strategically, within Ukraine itself, who will succeed is yet unclear.

The Ukraine war is actually being fought and waged at two levels. The first is strategic, in Ukraine: the allies staying true to their word and supplying Ukraine with what it needs to create negotiating conditions favorable to the Zelensky government increases the probability that Putins aggression will fail. The second war is grand-strategic, beyond Ukraine: preventing the kind of world in which force plays an increasing role. The rules-based world created after World War II is one in which America and its allies, as well as many other nations, prospered. A future with weak rules and more wars is not one conducive to any countrys prosperity.

The war at both levels is worth fighting. And both, worth winning. Preventing future war starts with stopping Putin in Ukraine. Those who are suggesting that we negotiate with Putin now are not thinking about whats at stake should Putins aggression pay off. The Zelensky government, the Ukraine people, and its allied supporters still have the ability to write the outcome.

James M. Dubik, Ph.D., a retired lieutenant general of the U.S. Army, is a senior fellow at the Institute for the Study of War. He served in military command and operational roles in Bosnia, Haiti and Iraq, and helped train forces in Afghanistan, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Honduras, and many NATO countries.

Continued here:

Beware of war predictions: Ukraines outcome is not yet written - The Hill

Vladimir Putin's annual Navy Day parade looks impressive from the banks of St Petersburg's Neva river; it looks even better on state TV.

No expense spared when it comes to showing the people of Russia quite how big and shiny their navy and armed forces are.

Think back to April though and the loss of the Moskva - the flagship warship of Russia's Black Sea fleet.

A direct hit Ukraine's defence ministry said; a fire onboard according to Russia.

A significant blow both to Russia's prestige and its Black Sea capabilities. Nor is it the only loss for the Black Sea fleet, against a Ukrainian navy massively diminished since the annexation of Crimea and largely barricaded inside its ports, just like its commercial shipping.

The Black Sea blockade has been a major strategic win for Russia, forcing Ukraine to mine itself in.

Stasis at Ukraine's ports has left huge swathes of the world without grain, most significantly, but also fertiliser, sunflower oil and a host of other exports which would have brought much needed cash into the Ukrainian economy.

Despite the grain deal struck in Istanbul, still no ship has set sail. It is an indication of the profound lack of faith in Russia's intentions, especially after its missile strike on the port of Odesa with the ink on the deal barely dry.

Today Putin promised more big guns.

The long touted Tsirkon hypersonic missile will be delivered to Russia's armed forces in the coming months.

The Admiral Gorshkov frigate which has already test-fired the missile will be its first recipient. According to Putin, the Tsirkon missile systems will have "no equal in the world".

The crowds along Palace Embankment may not have taken that in particularly but they loved the parade and aerial flyby.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"Did you hear the people cheering when Putin came out?", said Janna, whose dislike of all things British was palpable. "I hope you heard, I don't think you have such a strong leader".

"I believe that you have set us against each other, two brotherly peoples", she said pointing her finger menacingly. "I hope you can understand what the Russian spirit is when you're here".

Natalia in a 'Z' T-shirt, merchandise which is ever more frequent to see, told me she was sure of victory. When I asked her what she meant by victory, she said "Victory over fascism, over the Nazis, for peace!".

"What does the word 'Nazi' mean to you?", I ask.

"People who are only for their own nation, and do not accept others", is the answer.

That is a broad definition. It is no wonder it has caught the imagination of so many in Russia. It is a world removed from the notion of death camps and the appalling atrocities of Nazi Germany.

But not everyone is so sure of their president.

Subscribe to the Ukraine War Diaries on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Spreaker

"Denazification was fair for Hitler but there is no Nazism in Ukraine", says Oleg.

"This war is Putins last attack on the world. The personal attack of a mad dictator against the whole world because the whole civilised world is now against this outrage that is happening".

A lone voice in today's crowd. Perhaps too, in today's Russia.

But there may be many more like Oleg who dont attend events like these but who feel deeply uncomfortable with the events of the past five months, their reservations overwhelmed by the mighty force of patriotism which Vladimir Putin whips up so well.

Read the original here:

Ukraine war: Mighty force of patriotism whipped up by Putin overwhelms doubts about Russia's power - Sky News

Russia launched an attack on Ukraines capital Sunday.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least one apartment building was hit in the shelling.

The attack Sunday comes on the same day that Group of Seven leaders from the worlds richest democracies are meeting in Germany.

Russias invasion of Ukraine will be a main focus of the summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday he will take part in the summit Monday.

Before the opening of the summit, U.S. President Joe Biden said that the U.S. and the other G-7 economies will ban the import of Russian gold, the latest sanction imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

The attack on Ukraines capital comes a day after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, a major victory for Russia after weeks of fierce fighting, with the ongoing battles resulting in international food and fuel price hikes.

Meanwhile, Russia launched rocket attacks across Ukraine on Saturday. The attacks were reported to be launched from Belarusian airspace, just hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to meet with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Zelenskyy said in his daily address Saturday that Ukraine needs more armed assistance, and that air defense systems -- the modern systems that our partners have - should be not in training areas or storage facilities, but in Ukraine, where they are now needed. Needed more than anywhere else in the world.

Ukraine said Russian forces had fully occupied Lysychansk, a neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk, in the eastern Luhansk region. Moscow claimed it had encircled about 2,000 Ukrainian troops in the area.

The Russian advances appeared to bring the Kremlin closer to taking full control of Luhansk province, one of Moscow's stated war objectives.

To stabilize the situation in Luhansk, Ukraine needs "fire parity" with Russia, Ukraine's top general told his U.S. counterpart Friday.

"We discussed the operational situation and the delivery flow of international technical assistance," Ukraine's General Valeriy Zaluzhniy wrote on the Telegram app after a phone call with the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley.

Ukraine has said Russia's artillery advantage on the Donbas front lines is taking a significant toll on Ukrainian troops and has called on its Western partners to supply more weapons to minimize the deficit.

A senior U.S. defense official on Friday praised the Ukrainian decision to withdraw from Sievierodonetsk, describing the move as professional and tactical.

What they are doing is putting themselves in a position where they can better defend themselves, the official told reporters on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss intelligence and other sensitive information.

And while the official said Russian forces have been able to eke out gains around Sievierodonetsk, the gains have come at considerable cost.

The Russians have suffered heavy casualties and they also have suffered heavy equipment losses, the official said. The Russian forces are showing the signs of wear and tear, and debilitated morale, and it is impacting their ability to move forward swiftly.

View original post here:

Russia Attacks Ukraine Capital

EARLY HISTORYHumans have settled in Ukraine since prehistoric timesarchaeologists believe that humans were using stone tools there some 30,000 years ago. Around the 8th century B.C., long-term settlers began to arrive; these included Cimmerians, Scythians, and Sarmatians, tribes of people from whats now the country of Iran.

Around the 6th century B.C., ancient Greeks and Romans began to colonize the coast of the Black Sea, trading wine, iron, silver, and gold. Around the same time, tribes of people called Slavs were settling throughout the country. By the 11th century, Slavs had joined Viking invaders called Varangians to form the powerful kingdom of Kyivan Rus, the largest empire in Europe at the time.

In the 13th century, Mongols from central Asia attacked the kingdom and ended the Kyivan Rus reign. In the 1300s, Lithuania took control of most of Ukraine.

RUSSIA TAKES OVERPolish invaders arrived in Ukraine in the late 1500s. The Poles forced most Ukrainians to be serfs, or to work as farmers on land they didnt own. Some serfs rebelled and formed a military force called the Cossacks. In 1648, the Cossacks asked for Russias help to defeat the Poles, and the Cossacks won independence. But by the late 1700s, Russia had gained control of almost all of Ukraine.

In the late 19th century and the early 20th century, many Ukrainians tried to keep their culture and traditions alive. But Russia pushed back and banned the Ukrainian language in print and in public. By 1922, Ukraine was part of the newly formed Soviet Union. (The Soviet Union was the largest country to have ever existed and included what are now the separate countries of Russia, Lithuania, and Belarus, among others.)

In the 1930s, Soviets took over Ukrainian farms, leading to the death of millions of Ukrainians from starvation. During World War II in the 1940s, Ukraine was invaded by Germany. German forces enslaved millions of Ukrainians and murdered some hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian Jews. In 1944, Germans were driven out of Ukraine by the Soviets.

UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCEAfter the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Ukraine declared its independence and elected the countrys first president, Leonid Kravchuk. The country did well at first. It established new currencythe hryvnia (like the U.S. dollar)and adopted the 1996 constitution under its second president, Leonid Kuchma. But in the early 2000s, Kuchma was accused of rigging elections, meaning that he and others in his party might have cheated to win.

POLITICAL UNRESTIn 2004, Viktor Yanukovych was elected president. But he also was suspected of cheating, and many Ukrainians who supported the losing candidate, Viktor Yuschencko, protested the results. When Yuschencko mysteriously became ill, supporters thought pro-Yanukovych forces had poisoned him so they started a protest called the Orange Revolution. Yuschencko was finally put in power.

In 2010, Yanukovych ran for president again and this time was elected. He began to establish closer ties with Russia, something not all Ukrainians liked. Some people in the Russian-speaking eastern part of the country agreed with this move, but much of the rest of the country didnt want to get involved with the Russian government. Violent protests broke out all over the country, with many calling for Yanukovych to step down.

Yanukovych was removed from office in 2014, and Petro Poroshenko was elected to replace him. Around the same time, Russian troops invaded the Crimean Peninsula, an area of land in southern Ukraine bordered by the Black Sea. Russias president, Vladimir Putin, said that the people of Crimea had voted for independence from Ukraine.

Many Ukrainians and leaders from several other countries didn't like Putins actions and thought the "vote" wasn't real. But in March 2014, Putin signed a treaty with some Crimean leadersthat said that Crimea was part of Russia. Ukrainian officials announced that they would not recognize the agreement and still considered Crimea part of Ukraine, not Russia.

Russian forces remained in Crimea to keep Ukraine from taking it back. Later in 2014, fights along the eastern border broke out between Ukrainians and Russian-backed rebels who wanted all of Ukraine to become part of Russia.

In 2019, comedian and actor Volodymyr Zelensky was elected president of Ukraine. Zelensky ran on a platform of uniting the country and ending border battles in the east with Russia. To help with that, the United States planned to give Ukraine millions of dollars in military aid to help fight the Russian occupations.

In July 2019, U.S. president Donald Trump was accused of withholding those funds unless Zelensky investigated Trumps political rival,Joe Biden. He refused, and Trump was eventually impeached, or formally accused of misconduct in office, by the U.S. House of Representatives over these claims. (Ukraine received the aid later in the year.)

WAR WITH RUSSIAIn February 2022, Putin announced an invasion on the country and sent troops to take over major cities, including the capital, Kyiv. Ukrainian citizens have been fighting back against the attacks, and Zelensky has vowed to remain in the country and fight until Ukraine regains its freedom.

Many world leaders strongly condemned Putins actions, and some punished Russia by stopping trade with the country or putting travel bans in place. The hope is that these punishmentscalled sanctionswill hurt Putin and Russia enough to stop the fighting before the war spreads into other European nations.

Read more from the original source:

Ukraine - National Geographic Kids

Smoke rises from a burning house following shelling in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, on Friday. Alexei Alexandrov/AP hide caption

Smoke rises from a burning house following shelling in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, on Friday.

As Friday draws to a close in Kyiv and in Moscow, here are the key developments of the day:

Ukraine's bid to join the European Union came one step closer as the EU's executive arm recommended giving Ukraine official candidate status. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission head, tweeted: "Ukraine has clearly shown commitment to live up to European values and standards." EU leaders will take up the recommendation later this month, but membership in the bloc can take years to formalize.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a scathing critique of the United States, saying the U.S. was to blame for a crisis in global relations, food security, inflation and trade. In his speech at Russia's annual economic forum, Putin presented his country as part of a new global order willing to challenge an America clinging to its past status as the world's lone superpower. He also said he had no objection to Ukraine's bid for EU membership because it isn't a military organization.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and offered "major" military training and continued aid. It was Johnson's second visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country.

Ukraine won this year's Eurovision song contest, but won't be hosting the competition next year due to the war. The European Broadcasting Union, which operates Eurovision, announced "with deep regret" that hosting next year's contest in Ukraine is not a viable option. Britain, this year's runner-up, is now the possible 2023 host. Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said on Twitter that his country didn't agree with the EBU's decision and posted a statement saying, "We demand additional negotiations on hosting Eurovision 2023 in Ukraine."

U.S. ambassador to Ukraine: "It's going to be a long, grinding, tough war."

From Kigoma to Kyiv, refugees everywhere deserve quality health care.

What's motivating the foreigners who have gone to Ukraine to fight against Russia.

Russia's war in Ukraine is changing the world: See its ripple effects in all corners of the globe.

You can read more daily recaps here. For context and more in-depth stories, you can find more of NPR's coverage here. Also, listen and subscribe to NPR's State of Ukraine podcast for updates throughout the day.

See original here:

Russia-Ukraine war: What happened today (June 17) : NPR

Last updated on April 18th, 2022

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. Kiev is its capital and largest city. It has a total area of 603,550 square km. Ukrainian is its official language. Its official currency is Ukrainian hryvnia () (UAH). Its seven land bordering countries are Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Russia, and Belarus. However, it is not completely landlocked with coastlines along the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov to the south. The religion plays a strong influential role in shaping Ukrainian music, literature, and architecture. With these interesting facts about Ukraine, lets learn more about its history, culture, people, food, and more.

1. According to Ukrainian folk tales, Kiev boasts up to three official witch gathering places. They share the name Lysa Hora (Bold Mountain).

2. Weaving with handmade looms is still used in some parts of the country, including Krupove, located in Rivne Oblast.

3. Unlike many cultures around the world, Ukrainians wear wedding rings on the right hand not the left.

4. O Sole Mio the world-famous song was composed in the country.

5. Ukrainian romanticism started developing in the 1830s. Romanticist poet-painter Taras Shevchenko played a central role in this regard. He is widely regarded as the father of national revival.

6. Commemorated on June, the 23rd, Ivana Kupala Day is one of Ukraines most fun traditional celebrations. Boys and girls join hands in pairs and jump over a fire in a purification ritual. Locals believe that when a couple skip the fire without losing grip of each other, their love is destined to last a lifetime.

7. Vyshyvanka is the Ukrainian national costume. It is decorated with ornamental hand woven embroidery featuring floral detail. Both women and men wear the costume on various occasions.

8. Kiev is widely regarded as the countrys spiritual capital. Pilgrims regularly travel long distances to visit the Sofia Kyivska church and St. Michaels Golden-Domed Monastery.

9. The popular Easter egg tradition originated in Ukraine. Originally, the eggs were patterned using wax and dye. The wax was eventually removed leaving an impressive pattern with dashing colors.

10. The worlds longest musical instrument also originates from Ukraine. The pipe piece is aptly named Trembita.

11. Orthodox Christianity dominates Ukraine and has a big influence on culture. According to a 2021 study by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 82% of the population identify as religious, 7% were atheists, and 11% did not have a definite answer.

12. Artisan textile is used in traditional Ukranian weddings. The embroidery depends on the region where the textile came from. Buyers can also choose from different historical motifs, stitching methods, and a wide variety of colors.

13. Battleship Potemkin, widely regarded as one of the best films of all time, is about a 1905 mutiny in Ukraine. Other notable films about the country are Mr Jones, which tackles the Holodomor famine, and Everything is Illuminated, which revisits the Holocaust.

14. The Kyiv cake is another edible symbol of the city. It features two layers of meringue, buttercream filling, chocolate glaze, and hazelnuts. It was an accidental discovery after a confectioner messed up a biscuit and colleagues made the most of the situation.

15. Several Hollywood stars were born in Ukraine including Milla Jovovich who had leading roles in The Fifth Element and Resident Evil. Another is Mila Kunis who is known for films like Gia and Black Swan, as well as the sitcom That 70s Show.

16. Among the former Soviet States, Ukraine is considered as having one of the freest press and Internet. Leading newspapers publish articles mainly in Ukrainian but translate some of these to Russian and English.

17. The internationally famous dish, Chicken Kiev, is said to have been popularized in the Continental Hotel located in the Ukrainian capital. It was their restaurants signature dish consisting of boned and skinned chicken breast stuffed with butter and fried until golden.

18. Ukrainian civilizations date back to 4800 B.C. The country is located in an area where Trypillian and Scythian civilizations thrived.

19. Thousands of Jews were offered protection by Ukrainian religious leaders during the World War II. One of the leaders, Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky was honored in 2013 by the Anti-Defamation League for his humanitarian role. The Jews found refuge in monasteries and Ukrainian homes.

20. Ukraine is home to several archaeological sites that were previously Neanderthal settlements. The settlements feature a mammoth bone dwelling and is viewed as a possible location for the domestication of horses. The Molodova sites date back to 43,00045,000 BC.

21. The worlds first constitution was drafted and introduced in 1710 by Ukrainian Hetman Pylyp Orlyk. The document was aimed at introducing the separation of powers. It outlined the responsibilities and rights of both citizens and government.

22. Russia and Austria showed very little interest in Ukraine in the 19th century. The country was predominantly rural. The situation changed as Ukrainian modernization and urbanization expanded.

23. Catherine the Great and some of her successors advocated increasing German immigration into Ukraine following the Russo-Turkish War in the late 1700s. The primary objective was to dilute the countrys demographic, which was characterized by a dominant Turk population.

24. Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met at the Yalta Conference in 1945, which was hosted by Ukraine. The meeting was aimed at charting the way forward in relation to the organization of post-war Europe. The venue, Livadia Palace is now a museum.

25. In 1986, Ukraine witnessed the worlds worst nuclear power plant disaster. The tragedy occurred at the Chernobyl plant located in the northern part of the country. The area has since been declared an exclusion zone. The disaster and declaration led to the emergence of several ghost towns. The area attracts multitudes of tourists despite the high levels of radiation. The UN created the Chernobyl Trust Fund to help the victims.

26. Kiev boasts the Hero City status, which was conferred by the Soviet Union in honor of its fierce resistance to the Nazis in 1941. The Germans surrounded the city in what became known as the Battle of Kiev.

27. The country shares ties with Western Europe that go back 1,000 years. Anna, the daughter of Grand Prince Yaroslav helped pave the way for strengthening of relationships when she became the Queen Consort of France in 1051. She played a huge role in exposing French people to Eastern culture.

28. As for modern humans, there are 32,000-year-old fossils in the Crimean Mountains discovered in 1991. Beside the bones were ivory ornaments that indicate ties to the Gravettian culture that spread across the continent of Europe.

29. Researchers from the University of Cambridge attempted to find the origin of the domestication of horses. They used different modelling techniques using a genetic database of horses and traced everything back to the western Eurasian Steppe consisting of Ukraine, West Kazakhstan, and Southwest Russia.

30. The land of the present-day Ukraine was part of the Scythian Kingdom from 700 BC to 200 BC. Scythia is the name given by the Greeks but they called themselves Scoloti. They used to be nomadic with a culture that centered around horseback riding.

31. Kievan Rus became the most powerful European state from the 10th to 11th century, and at its center was Kyiv. The Golden Age began with Vladimir the Great who converted from paganism to Christianity. The kingdom followed his lead.

32. The Mongols invaded in the 13th century and destroyed Kyiv. They occupied much of Eastern Europe and pushed westward towards the Atlantic Ocean. When Ogedei Khan, son of Genghis Khan died, they returned to their homeland and spared the rest of the continent.

33. From 1657 to 1686, Russia, the Cossacks, Poland, the Ottoman Empire, and the Crimean Khanate fought each other for dominance over Ukraine. The period known as The Ruin ended with the Treaty of Perpetual Peace between Russia and Poland.

34. The Russian Empire collapsed after World War I and was replaced by the Russian Republic under the Bolsheviks. Ukraine became one of the founders of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922.

35. Ukraines independence was officially declared on August 24, 1991. Its parliament proclaimed that the country would stop following the laws of the USSR, instead abiding by its own laws. In December of that year, voters overwhelmingly approved the referendum on independence.

36. One of Ukraines most popular traditional dishes is varenyky which are boiled dumplings with potatoes, sauerkraut, mushrooms, cottage cheese, or berries. Another is borscht which is a soup with meat, mushrooms, cabbage, and beets.

37. Lviv is home to the highest number of cafes per capita in the world. It boasts up to 1,500 establishments.

38. McDonalds in Kiev is reportedly one of the busiest in the world.

39. Ukrainians love drinking horilka, which is a local variant of the famed vodka. Locals often flavor this national drink with chilli pepper to give it a bit more punch.

40. Locals also enjoy drinking stewed fruit (Kompot), which is a non-alcoholic sweet beverage. It is prepared by cooking different types of fruits, such as gooseberries, rhubarb, strawberries, apples and sour berries among others. The drink is often flavored using spices, particularly in winter months when it is served hot.

Geography

41. It has one of the lowest population densities with only 73 individuals per square kilometer.

42. The capital, Kyiv, is also the largest city in the nation with almost 3 million people. It can be found in the North Central Ukraine on both sides of the Dnipro River. Other major cities include Kharkiv, Odessa, Dnipro, and Donetsk.

43. There are two different biomes in Ukraine. The northern and western regions are a mixed forest with temperate climate and broadleaf trees. Meanwhile, the southern and eastern regions are steppes with grassland plains and few trees.

44. The highest point is at the summit of Mount Hoverla. It rises to a height of 2,061 meters above sea level or 6,762 feet. This is part of the Carpathian Mountains and has been a prominent tourist destination since the late 19th century.

45. The seven major rivers in Ukraine are the Danube, Dnipro, Desna, Prypiat, Southern Buh, and Siverian Donets. Around 95% of the countrys rivers are part of the drainage basins of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

46. Rain is much more frequent in the west and the north of the country. The Carpathian Mountains receive about 1,200 mm of annual precipitation. Meanwhile, Crimea to the south only gets 400 mm every year.

47. The temperature in Kyiv ranges from 61 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit in July and falls to 21 to 30 degrees in January. It is hotter for the southeastern city of Dnipro at 65 to 83 degrees in July and 21 to 32 degrees in January.

48. Aside from Ukraine, the Black Sea is bordered by Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, and Romania. It drains into the Turkish Straits consisting of the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. There is a deep layer of water that doesnt mix or drain, allowing the preservation of ancient shipwrecks.

49. The countrys name is widely thought to come from the ancient Slavic term for borderland. It was referred to as The Ukraine until independence was declared in 1991. The article was officially dropped in favor of the politically correct Ukraine.

Economy

50. Around two-thirds of Ukraines land is covered in black earth, a nutrient-rich soil that makes the country one of the most fertile in the world. It is considered as the breadbasket of Europe because of its massive agricultural exports.

51. Ukraine leads in the world in the production of sunflower oil. It is also among the largest producers of corn, wheat, potato, sugar beet, barley, tomatoes, apples, pumpkins, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, rye, walnuts, buckwheat, dry peas, and honey.

52. Ukraine has one of the highest numbers of IT-certified professionals behind the US, India, and Russia. This makes it a top outsourcing destination for companies all over the globe. In 2019, it became the biggest IT services exporter in Europe.

53. The country has large mineral reserves and half of the known deposits are now being exploited. According to 2019 USGS statistics, Ukraine is included in the Top 10 producers for iron ore, manganese, titanium, graphite, and uranium.

54. Although Ukraine produces gas, it still needs to import most of its fuel needs from Russia and Turkmenistan. Ukraines pipelines transport Russias gas to the EU. This has major consequences for the economy and foreign policy.

55. Ukraine maintains independence when it comes to the supply of electricity. This is thanks to its hydroelectric and nuclear power plants. In fact, it has excess capacity that is exported to Russia and other Eastern European countries.

56. The country has a space rocket industry under the management of the State Space Agency of Ukraine. The Yuzhnoye Design Office created the Zenit-3SL carrier rocket and the first stage core of the Antares rocket.

57. During the Soviet era, shipbuilding companies in Ukraine built warships for the USSR. After independence, the focus shifted to bulk tankers, whaling bases, dry cargo vessels, fishing trawlers, and the like. Companies also offer ship repair services.

58. Ukraine is a popular tourist destination in Eastern Europe with over 10 million visitors each year, most coming from nearby countries. The Carpathian Mountains are suitable for adventures while the Black Sea coastline offers long sandy beaches. It also has ancient castles, vineyards, impressive churches, and other attractions.

. . . continue reading on the next page

Read more from the original source:

50+ Interesting Facts About Ukraine - The Fact File

Western leaders ended the three-day G7 summit in Germany promising to increase the economic and political costs to Vladimir Putin and his regime of Russias war in Ukraine.

The German chancellor and chair of the G7, Olaf Scholz, made the vow at a closing press conference in which he said the group were united and unbreakable, adding: It is important to stand together for this over the long distance, which will certainly be necessary.

With the summit taking place at the same time as an attack on a kindergarten in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and a missile strike on a shopping centre in Kremenchuk that killed at least 18 people, the leaders will hope the summit demonstrated the resolve, unity and practicality required to weaken the Russian presidents war machine. Scholz said the rest of the world was watching Putins brutal assault on the civilian population of Ukraine.

However, disagreements at the summit continued right until the end on the issue of finding a way to reduce the flow of cash into the Kremlin from western consumption of Russian energy. Germany fears that a cap on the price of oil or gas would lead to a complete cut-off of Russian energy supplies and European industrial meltdown. Others, especially the Americans, say the plan is workable.

The G7 said it would take immediate action to secure energy supply and reduce price surges driven by extraordinary market conditions, including by exploring additional measures such as price caps.

The wording allows further work to be undertaken on complementary US ideas for an oil price cap and an Italian plan for a gas price cap. Russia has already warned of retaliation if the west tries to manipulate energy prices to below the market level.

The G7 leaders said they were moved by the video discussion with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in which he called on the group to help end the war by the winter, reflecting the attrition that Ukrainian soldiers are facing and a belief that heavier weaponry can help regain the ground that is steadily being lost in the Donbas. One G7 leader said: Zelenskiy showed courage and realism about what lies ahead.

Boris Johnson, who entered the summit warning that Russia is poised to annex more Ukrainian land if the status quo in the balance of forces continues, emerged slightly more optimistic that those who had been calling for an early settlement have been quietened, and that it has been accepted a sustained battle lies ahead.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron sometimes seen as the man most committed to a future long-term relationship with Russia said the G7 would support Ukraine for as long as necessary. He was unconstrained in his criticism of Russian attacks on civilians, saying the strike on the Kremenchuk shopping centre was a war crime and that Russia must not win the war.

Sign up to First Edition, our free daily newsletter every weekday morning at 7am BST

The final communique said: We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, providing the needed financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support in its courageous defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It also stressed that the G7 has pledged and given $29.5bn (24.1bn) in budget aid this year.

The confirmation that the US will provide a state-of-the-art surface-to-air missile defence system was probably the single biggest tangible development in terms of practical help.

At a summit normally dominated by the topics of the climate crisis, food security, global debt and pandemics, it was striking how little of the top-line discussion focused on these issues, even if the 28-page communique did address Scholzs personal project of forming a climate club by the end of the year dedicated to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

The other stated climate goals were a highly decarbonised road sector by 2030, a fully or predominantly decarbonised power sector by 2035, and prioritising concrete and timely steps towards the goal of accelerating the phase-out of domestic unabated coal power.

The wording gives Japan wriggle room regarding the date by which it reaches the emission-free vehicles target, and also allows some flexibility for overseas investment in fossil fuels.

On food security, the G7 offered an additional $4.5bn (3.7bn) way short of the UN World Food Programme target.

Max Lawson, the head of inequality policy at Oxfam, said the funding was a fraction of the necessary minimum of $28.5bn (23.3bn) extra: Faced with the worst hunger crisis in a generation, the G7 have simply failed to take the action that is needed. Many millions will face terrible hunger and starvation as a result.

Instead of doing what is needed, the G7 are leaving millions to starve and cooking the planet.

Here is the original post:

Response to Russias war in Ukraine dominates G7 summit - The Guardian

World leaders are gathering in Madrid today for the Nato conference, and one issue will loom above all else: the war in Ukraine. The conflict has been described as the biggest security challenge to the west since 9/11 and, alongside practical considerations of military aid, leaders are desperate to project an image of unity.

The Guardians Dan Sabbagh, who is in Madrid for the conference, has just returned from eastern Ukraine, where he witnessed the relentless shelling of Ukrainian troops. He talks to Michael Safi about a frontline that has come to resemble the battlefields of the first world war.

Yesterday, world leaders at the G7 summit strongly condemned Russias attack on a shopping centre that Ukraine says has killed at least 20 civilians.

But amid the statements of western unity, there lies a nagging fear: will it endure? As the conflict enters a phase of attrition with both sides digging in, the conflict shows no signs of coming to a conclusion this year. And with the global food and cost of living crises hitting voters, will the worlds richest democracies stay the course as they are promising to do?

Support The Guardian

The Guardian is editorially independent. And we want to keep our journalism open and accessible to all. But we increasingly need our readers to fund our work.

Continued here:

Ukraine: counting the cost of a long war podcast - The Guardian

Boris Johnson has claimed that Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he was a woman and believes that the war is a perfect example of toxic masculinity.

In an interview with German media following the G7 summit in Schloss Elmau, the prime minister cited the Russian presidents gender as a contributory factor to the conflict.

Johnson told broadcaster ZDF: If Putin was a woman, which he obviously isnt, if he were, I really dont think he would have embarked on a crazy, macho war of invasion and violence in the way that he has.

If you want a perfect example of toxic masculinity, its what he is doing in Ukraine.

It comes after western leaders ended the three-day G7 summit in southern Germany promising to increase the economic and political costs to Putin and his regime of Russias war in Ukraine.

Johnson has since travelled to Madrid for a Nato summit along with the foreign secretary, Liz Truss.

The British military presence in Estonia will be bolstered as Nato dramatically escalates its ability to respond to Russia. Leaders from the 30-member alliance will agree to cooperate more closely and significantly increase the number of troops held at high readiness.

The UK already has a significant military presence in Estonia and the prime minister will use the meeting to expand its headquarters in the Baltic nation.

Officials said it would ensure the UK could provide rapid reinforcements if needed and deploy artillery, air defence and helicopters.

The alliance plans to have 300,000 troops at high readiness up from the current 40,000 and the UK will commit capabilities in land, air and sea to the new force model.

See more here:

Boris Johnson claims Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he was a woman - The Guardian